Next hotspot in the Augusta MSA (Atlanta, Martinez: lower-class, neighborhoods, universities)

[Mutiny77]

Originally Posted by dpatt.marine1

I used Duluth because it has a mall and arena along side a major interstate similar to what could happen in Grovetown in the future.

I get that, but what does that have to do with Raleigh?

[therealpattman]

Originally Posted by Mutiny77

I get that, but what does that have to do with Raleigh?

I used Raleigh because its main Arena also home to NC State is located to the west of the city, and Augusta with the proper infrastructure and leadership could mirror a small version of the city.

[Mutiny77]

Originally Posted by dpatt.marine1

I used Raleigh because its main Arena also home to NC State is located to the west of the city, and Augusta with the proper infrastructure and leadership could mirror a small version of the city.

PNC Arena isn't to the west of Raleigh, but rather it's in western Raleigh and is basically and on-campus arena. That's a completely different dynamic at play, and there's no large shopping center nearby. I get the Duluth comparison, but not Raleigh.

[therealpattman]

Originally Posted by Mutiny77

PNC Arena isn't to the west of Raleigh, but rather it's in western Raleigh and is basically and on-campus arena. That's a completely different dynamic at play, and there's no large shopping center nearby. I get the Duluth comparison, but not Raleigh.

I was comparing Grovetown to Duluth, and Augusta to Raleigh.

[Mutiny77]

Originally Posted by dpatt.marine1

I was comparing Grovetown to Duluth, and Augusta to Raleigh.

So in what way is Augusta similar to Raleigh in its makeup, as you stated? Raleigh's arena is on the western side of town very close to NC State's campus with no large shopping center in the area. What does Augusta have similar to that? And how would a new arena in Grovetown mimic that?

[therealpattman]

Originally Posted by Mutiny77

So in what way is Augusta similar to Raleigh in its makeup, as you stated? Raleigh's arena is on the western side of town very close to NC State's campus with no large shopping center in the area. What does Augusta have similar to that? And how would a new arena in Grovetown mimic that?

Raleigh and Augusta are both average when it comes to tourism, I mean Augusta has the Masters but other than that, it like Raleigh is average in terms of tourism, I mean people move to Raleigh mostly for jobs, I have been there many times and to me it doesn't appear to be a place folks go to really have fun similar to Augusta, now my observation could be wrong. Even though downtown Augusta is centrally located in the MSA, the freeway and highway system in Augusta make it so you have to go out of the way essentially to get downtown which is similar to Raleigh I mean I-520 is about 1.50 miles away from downtown at its shortest point nearly the same as I-40 in Raleigh. If you compare a map of Raleigh to Augusta, I-520 is Augusta's I-40, I-440 beltway. To the west of Raleigh you have Cary which reminds me of Grovetown in its position to the city. Even in terms of the airports, Augusta Regional is growing very fast the same way Raleigh Durham did years ago. If you think about Gateway in Grovetown is the only real shopping spot in the area, most of the area is surrounded by trees as seen on these attachments. The thing Raleigh has that Augusta lacks is an extensive freeway system, a true research park and larger supporting cities like Durham a Chapel Hill.

The blue lines are parts of an interstate I have been working on for a few years.
https://www.facebook.com/BuildInterstate63

The area in Grovetown could work out because of its location off a major interstate near entertainment. The sprawl of Evans will someday mix with Grovetown and many new hotels will go up around the area. Also another big factor is the amount of undeveloped land around I-20 in Grovetown. As I have previously stated once it attracts a mall or lifestyle center development with possibly an arena, hotels will come along with more conventions and with all that prime land off the interstate I don't see why companies would not be attracted. Once again this is just my take on the topic.

[Mutiny77]

Originally Posted by dpatt.marine1

Raleigh and Augusta are both average when it comes to tourism, I mean Augusta has the Masters but other than that, it like Raleigh is average in terms of tourism, I mean people move to Raleigh mostly for jobs, I have been there many times and to me it doesn't appear to be a place folks go to really have fun similar to Augusta, now my observation could be wrong. Even though downtown Augusta is centrally located in the MSA, the freeway and highway system in Augusta make it so you have to go out of the way essentially to get downtown which is similar to Raleigh I mean I-520 is about 1.50 miles away from downtown at its shortest point nearly the same as I-40 in Raleigh. If you compare a map of Raleigh to Augusta, I-520 is Augusta's I-40, I-440 beltway. To the west of Raleigh you have Cary which reminds me of Grovetown in its position to the city. Even in terms of the airports, Augusta Regional is growing very fast the same way Raleigh Durham did years ago. If you think about Gateway in Grovetown is the only real shopping spot in the area, most of the area is surrounded by trees as seen on these attachments. The thing Raleigh has that Augusta lacks is an extensive freeway system, a true research park and larger supporting cities like Durham a Chapel Hill.

The blue lines are parts of an interstate I have been working on for a few years.
https://www.facebook.com/BuildInterstate63

The area in Grovetown could work out because of its location off a major interstate near entertainment. The sprawl of Evans will someday mix with Grovetown and many new hotels will go up around the area. Also another big factor is the amount of undeveloped land around I-20 in Grovetown. As I have previously stated once it attracts a mall or lifestyle center development with possibly an arena, hotels will come along with more conventions and with all that prime land off the interstate I don't see why companies would not be attracted. Once again this is just my take on the topic.

I was only asking about a comparison between the two in terms of where PNC Arena is located in Raleigh and where a future arena in the Augusta area might be located (Grovetown). I'm not seeing many similarities between the two as far as this goes.

Furthermore, Augusta shouldn't WANT its newest and most state-of-the-art arena in a suburb; it should be in or near downtown. The Arena at Gwinnett is a secondary venue in metro Atlanta, and PNC Arena is essentially on NC State's campus which is why it isn't downtown.

[The Magician]

Originally Posted by Mutiny77

I was only asking about a comparison between the two in terms of where PNC Arena is located in Raleigh and where a future arena in the Augusta area might be located (Grovetown). I'm not seeing many similarities between the two as far as this goes.

Furthermore, Augusta shouldn't WANT its newest and most state-of-the-art arena in a suburb; it should be in or near downtown. The Arena at Gwinnett is a secondary venue in metro Atlanta, and PNC Arena is essentially on NC State's campus which is why it isn't downtown.

I agree with the first part but not the second. Columbia county can support its own small arena and if they build it in Grovetown so be it. Augusta's new arena doesn't have to be in or near downtown. WTP would be just fine. It would have I-20 and I-520 access and there's already retail/dining in that area. The more I think about it, there's no point in demolishing JBA nor spending more money to improve it, even though they are spending money on that thing. I really wouldn't want a new arena next to railroad tracks and so far away from the main strip. Augusta's leaders are going to have to pitch a plan to the people to demolish a section of downtown away from the railroad and near the main strip for a new arena.

[803Swimmer]

Originally Posted by The Magician

I agree with the first part but not the second. Columbia county can support its own small arena and if they build it in Grovetown so be it. Augusta's new arena doesn't have to be in or near downtown. WTP would be just fine. It would have I-20 and I-520 access and there's already retail/dining in that area. The more I think about it, there's no point in demolishing JBA nor spending more money to improve it, even though they are spending money on that thing. I really wouldn't want a new arena next to railroad tracks and so far away from the main strip. Augusta's leaders are going to have to pitch a plan to the people to demolish a section of downtown away from the railroad and near the main strip for a new arena.

Personally, I believe that building a new arena outside of downtown would be devastating to downtown, IMO.

That said, I believe that the perfect spot for a new arena downtown would be on Reynolds St. between 8th and 9th streets, and here's why:

1. Prime location allows for connectivity to Convention Center and downtown's 'main' hotel, the Marriott.
2. Ample public parking provided by the 2 city owned parking garages at the Convention Center and at Ft. Discovery.
3. Ability to incorporate greenspace/public parks as location is on the Riverwalk and across Reynolds St from the Common.
4. Ease of access, centrally located on Reynolds at the midpoint between 13th street and US1/Gordon Hwy. For further ease of access, Reynolds could be easily adapted to have 'reversible lanes' allowing for an increase in lanes to/from the arena to assist with traffic flow.

The connectivity to the Convention Center and the Marriott would be the most beneficial IMO, the entire complex could be operated and marketed as 1 venue: 40,000 sq. ft. of convention space connected to a 12,000 seat arena, a full service hotel, and a multi-story car park; all located a block from the heart of Broad St downtown.

Tell me that's not a 5 star sales pitch right there!

[therealpattman]

Originally Posted by 803Swimmer

Personally, I believe that building a new arena outside of downtown would be devastating to downtown, IMO.

That said, I believe that the perfect spot for a new arena downtown would be on Reynolds St. between 8th and 9th streets, and here's why:

1. Prime location allows for connectivity to Convention Center and downtown's 'main' hotel, the Marriott.
2. Ample public parking provided by the 2 city owned parking garages at the Convention Center and at Ft. Discovery.
3. Ability to incorporate greenspace/public parks as location is on the Riverwalk and across Reynolds St from the Common.
4. Ease of access, centrally located on Reynolds at the midpoint between 13th street and US1/Gordon Hwy. For further ease of access, Reynolds could be easily adapted to have 'reversible lanes' allowing for an increase in lanes to/from the arena to assist with traffic flow.

The connectivity to the Convention Center and the Marriott would be the most beneficial IMO, the entire complex could be operated and marketed as 1 venue: 40,000 sq. ft. of convention space connected to a 12,000 seat arena, a full service hotel, and a multi-story car park; all located a block from the heart of Broad St downtown.

Tell me that's not a 5 star sales pitch right there!

I agree with your assessment, however the main reason downtown will continue to struggle is the lack of connectivity. We have Riverwatch and Gordon Hwy and a host of side streets but unless you want to come downtown you don't have to do so to get to anywhere in the CSRA because of I-520. Even if you build a world class venue it will be underutilized and end up the same way the JBA is now. If the venue was off the interstate it could be more easily accessible and closer to the bulk of the patrons that will use it. I mean you could easily build a lake in front of it and it would truly be a gem, but we never know until it's built or more improved infrastructure comes to downtown.